When colour of success is Red

- Maoist-hit districts outshine academic hubs in matric

A.S.R.P. MUKESH

Quite like its buoying voting percentage in the recently over Lok Sabha polls in the state, Jharkhand has bettered its academic record of four years by registering an overall success rate of 75.30 per cent in matriculation 2014, the results of which were released from Ranchi on Tuesday afternoon.

State HRD minister Geetashree Oraon did the honours at a low-key function at the Namkum office of Jharkhand Academic Council, which became the first board in the country to declare Class X results this year. While boys outshone girls in the final tally, the secondary examination results have also shown how rebel-torn districts such as Giridih can outwit established educational hubs like Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad.

Statistics show that last year, Jharkhand had notched a pass percentage of 73.15. The same for 2012 was a decade’s lowest of 67.35.

Around 4,78,079 students, including 2,34,285 girls, had appeared for this year’s exam out of which 3,60,005 have cleared it. While success rate for boys is 77.66, the same for girls is lower at 72.83 per cent.

Among districts, underdeveloped Giridih topped with 85.84 per cent (see chart) followed by Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Palamau and Bokaro. East Singhbhum has ranked 12th with a pass percentage of 73.81 and Dhanbad 17th with 70.79 percent.

True to its reputation, Netarhat Residential School in Maoist-hit Latehar once again had a clean sweep at this year’s achiever list. Although the council will officially release names of achievers in September on its Foundation Day, sources revealed that the top five — all boys — belong to the school.

Abhishek Ranjan, who has notched a score of 483 out of 500, said he aspired to be a civil servant and would always owe his success to his parents and Netarhat schoolteachers.

JAC chairman Anand Bhushan said they had done their best to improve scores. “We introduced mock tests, held time-to-time meetings with district education officers, principals and schoolteachers and aided weaker students with special tutorials. However, I would like the government and academics to analyse whether we are improving and if yes, how much.”

He added that counselling would begin from Wednesday, 11am to 5pm, for those who failed to clear the board exam. “Students can call our toll-free number 18003456523.”

HRD minister Oraon said she had hoped the success rate would touch 80 per cent, but conceded dearth of proper academic environment at government schools.

“There are many issues — from scarcity of teachers to non-timely arrival of textbooks and infrastructure crunch — plaguing our schools. And, there is always scope for improvement. We are trying to do so. For the good show, credit goes to teachers and students who have worked hard,” she said.

State HRD secretary K. Vidyasagar highlighted some areas that needed to be addressed. “There is a lot of difference between high- and low-scoring districts and SC/ST pass percentage among others. We need to find answers to these posers at the earliest to improve the overall education scenario in the state. Meetings in this regard will be held soon,” he promised.